Huh? What is wainscoting? Like many other things in the home improvement world, this is just another fancy term for something you’ve probably seen a thousand times. Wainscoting is just paneling that covers a wall in your home.
Photo courtesy wainscotsolutions.com
See? You’ve seen that before.
Wainscoting used to serve a practical function for homes and buildings when it was first introduced, but now it is mostly used as a decorative addition to any home. And it’s not too difficult a task to do yourself, so we’re going to give it a shot.
But first, let’s take a look at what we’ll need:
- Hammer
- Nail gun (you can easily rent one of these at your local hardware store)
- Level (check out this app for a level on your phone)
- Finish nails
- Caulk
- Beadboard
- Construction adhesive
Step 1: Install the Baseboard
The baseboard is the most crucial part of this project, as it makes sure that the entire wainscoting is level and in place. So, in order to make it do that, you’ve got to make sure the baseboard is level and parallel to the floor when you attach it to the wall.
After you’ve used your level to align the baseboard with the wall, you’ll attach the baseboard to the wall using an air-powered nail gun. You’ll want to use two nails spaced pretty evenly on each piece of the baseboard. Also, the nail gun isn’t a necessity (you could use a hammer and finishing nails), but it makes the project go by a whole lot quicker. Time is money, right?
Step 2: Attach individual panels
The beadboard panels rest on top of the baseboard. They fit together using tongue-and-groove edges, which makes aligning them easy, especially if you’ve done a good job on the baseboard. You’ll also need to put some construction adhesive on the back corners of each panel to ensure a snug fit.
You’ll want the corner pieces to fit tightly against the corners. This creates a good base for the rest of the wall piece. Press each section into place, anchoring each with brads for added support. You’ll continue this along the length of the wall.
So, maybe you ran into a section of the wall that has an electrical outlet. You’ll want to use a jig saw to cut a hold in the beadboard for electrical outlets. Like with any saw, this can be dangerous so consult a professional if you aren’t comfortable using it.
Step 3: Install molding
We’re getting close to the end! Two more steps (including this one) and you’re done with the project.
Next up is the shoe and top molding. The purpose of the shoe molding is two-fold. It is a nice little decorative addition, but it also covers any gaps.
For the shoe molding, you don’t need any adhesive. You can just attach each piece every few feet using brads.
Then, for the top molding, slide it into place along the top of the panels. Once it is on and ready to go, attach it to the wall using a brad nailer.
Step 4: Finish up
Now it’s time for those last little details that make any project really pop.
Install the crown cap just as you did with the top molding. This can also be secured using a brad nailer.
Next, you’ll want to caulk any gaps using painter’s caulk. Don’t worry! Once the caulk dries you can paint over it to match the color of the molding.
That’s about it. It’s not the easiest project we’ve done here on DIY Mother, so congratulations on finishing it (whenever you do). You’ll find that wainscoting adds a really nice flair to a hallway or wall, and can really define the aesthetic of a room.
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